September brings a fresh start. New school shoes, new books, new routines : and, for many young golfers, a chance to carry the enjoyment of summer camps and holiday golf into the autumn term.
The difficulty is finding the time.
Between homework, tea, clubs and the occasional missing PE kit, a long practice session can feel like another job for the family diary. It doesn’t have to be. A short, repeatable routine can keep a child connected to golf without turning home practice into another lesson.
I’ve always believed that 15 purposeful minutes is far more useful than an hour of unfocused hitting. A little structure, a simple challenge and a positive finish can keep the enjoyment moving in the right direction.
Why short practice works for golf for kids
Children do not need to practise everything in one go. In fact, trying to cover grip, posture, swing, putting, chipping, rules and course manners during one session is enough to make most adults reach for the kettle.
A short routine gives each practice session a clear job. It also makes golf easier to fit around school.
For younger children, the full 15 minutes can include plenty of movement and games. Older juniors may enjoy a little more challenge and recording their scores. The important thing is to keep the session suitable for the child’s age, attention span and current stage of learning.
This is a practical part of long-term athletic development for kids: building regular habits, confidence and enjoyment over time, rather than chasing a perfect swing in one afternoon.
The 15-minute junior golf practice routine
Use the same simple shape each time:
- Two minutes: get ready and warm up
- Five minutes: focus on one purposeful skill
- Five minutes: play a game or complete a challenge
- Three minutes: reflect, teach back and record progress
That’s it. No complicated equipment. No need for parents to become swing coaches.
1. Start with a simple warm-up
Begin with movement rather than technical instruction.
Your child could walk around the garden carrying the club safely, make a few slow practice swings without a ball or gently roll a ball towards a target. A few shoulder rolls, balance exercises or stretches can also help them settle into the session.
For younger children, make it playful:
- Can they balance like a flamingo while holding the club?
- Can they make three slow swings without losing their balance?
- Can they roll the ball towards a towel from different starting points?
The warm-up is not there to fill time. It helps children switch from school mode to golf mode.
Keep safety clear and simple. Use foam balls indoors, give everyone plenty of space and make sure the club is only swung when the area is safe.
2. Choose one purposeful skill
Pick one skill from the child’s current junior golf lessons or recent coaching session.
Not three skills. Not the whole golf bag. One.
Good options include:
- Starting a putt towards a target
- Controlling the distance of a roll
- Making solid contact with a chip
- Holding balance after a gentle swing
- Choosing a sensible target
- Learning a rule or piece of golf etiquette
For a beginner, place two tees slightly wider than the ball and ask the child to putt through the gate. For a more experienced player, place targets at different distances and ask them to judge how firmly to roll the ball.
If the child has been working on a particular movement with their coach, ask them to show you what they remember. Avoid adding your own correction. The value is in helping them repeat a clear idea, not creating a second coaching system in the kitchen.
Let the child teach it back
Teach-back is a brilliant way to check understanding without making practice feel like a test.
After the skill section, ask:
- “What were you trying to do there?”
- “What helped the ball?”
- “Can you show me the idea again?”
- “Where would you aim next time?”
Listen to the answer. It doesn’t need to sound polished.
A child who can explain a simple idea in their own words is beginning to take ownership of their learning. That matters just as much as the shot itself.
This is one reason a structured kids golf coaching curriculum can be useful. It gives children familiar language, clear targets and a sense of what comes next, while allowing parents to support rather than instruct.
Finish with a game
The final five minutes should feel like play.
This is where the Bitesize Golf Success Cycle comes to life:
Have fun → Play games → More play → Improvement → Enthusiasm → repeat
Try one of these simple challenges.
The target ladder
Place three targets at different distances. These might be cups, cones, towels or safe household objects.
Award one point for reaching the first target, two for the second and three for the furthest. The child can choose whether to go for a safer score or attempt the more difficult target.
Five-ball fairway
Create a fairway using two clubs or markers. Hit five soft shots and count how many finish between the markers.
The aim is not power. It is control and decision-making.
Around-the-world putting
Place five balls around a hole or target. The child earns one point for each successful putt. If they miss, they can simply continue rather than starting again.
For younger children, make the target large and celebrate a good roll. For older juniors, narrow the target or ask them to complete the challenge in fewer attempts.
Beat your own score
Record the score and invite the child to try again another day.
Keep the comparison with their own previous effort. “You improved from three points to four” is far more helpful than comparing them with a sibling, a friend or an adult golfer.
What parents should say after practice
The post-practice conversation can shape how a child feels about golf.
Try to avoid beginning with, “How many did you get?” Instead, ask about the experience:
- “What was the most enjoyable part?”
- “What did you notice?”
- “Which shot would you like to try again?”
- “What did you learn today?”
Praise useful behaviours: focus, patience, creativity, careful aiming and willingness to try again.
That is where golf for children character building becomes very real. A child learns to cope with a missed putt, make a decision and have another go. Those habits travel well beyond the practice mat.
Keep the ending positive, even if the challenge didn’t go brilliantly. “We’ll have another go on Thursday” creates continuity without pressure.
Make progress visible
Visible milestones help children understand that their effort is going somewhere.
Use a simple notebook, wall chart or the Bitesize Golf App to record:
- The date
- The skill practised
- The game played
- The score or result
- One thing the child noticed
- The next small challenge
The Bitesize Golf pathway has ten levels, each with its own colour:
Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet, Coral, Silver and Gold.
A child does not need to rush through them. The colours simply provide a clear sense of direction. Each small practice session becomes part of a wider junior golf development system, rather than a collection of disconnected activities.
That continuity is valuable. It helps families see the benefit of regular junior golf coaching and makes the investment in children’s golf lessons easier to understand.
A rainy-day version for autumn
The weather will turn. That’s not a reason for the routine to disappear.
Set up an indoor station using a putting mat, carpet or folded towel. Foam balls are sensible for most homes, and targets can be made from cups, cushions or marked areas on the floor.
Try:
- Putting towards a mug from different distances
- Rolling the ball through a gate made from two books
- Judging speed by stopping the ball beside a cushion
- Naming one rule, piece of etiquette or golf term
- Drawing a golf hole and deciding where to aim
The purpose is not to recreate a full lesson indoors. It is to keep the connection with golf alive until the next opportunity outside.
A weekly plan that fits around school
There is no need to practise every day. Three short sessions can be plenty for a busy family.
- Early week: putting or balance
- Middle of the week: chipping or a simple swing movement
- Weekend: a target game at the club, range or garden
Keep the same 15-minute format but change the focus. That gives the child familiarity without making every session feel identical.
If a coaching session has taken place, use the next home practice to revisit one idea from it. The coach remains responsible for the technical direction; home practice simply gives the child a chance to enjoy, remember and explore.
For coaches and clubs considering how to grow a junior golf academy, this kind of home continuity can also help families see the value of a structured programme. Parents know what their child is working towards, and children have a reason to return between sessions.
The main thing to remember
A 15-minute routine should leave your child wanting to play again.
If the session becomes tense, shorten it. If the challenge is too easy, add a small stretch. If your child is tired after school, choose putting or a game rather than forcing technical work.
The best routine is the one your family can repeat.
Start this September with one skill, one game and one positive conversation. Keep the milestones visible, use rainy days wisely and let the enjoyment do some of the coaching.
That’s how a fresh start becomes a lasting habit.
About the author
David Gosling is the founder of Bitesize Golf and has spent more than 40 years working in junior golf development. His work focuses on helping children learn through structured coaching, purposeful games and clear progression, while supporting parents, coaches and clubs in creating positive long-term golfing experiences.
Social snippets
School is back, but junior golf doesn’t need to disappear into the diary.
A simple 15-minute routine can keep children connected to the game through one focused skill, one fun challenge and a short reflection. No need for parents to become coaches : just provide encouragement, structure and a reason to have another go.
Read the guide: www.bitesizegolf.com
A long practice session isn’t always realistic during the school term.
Our new guide shows parents how to build a simple 15-minute junior golf routine around homework, tea and busy family life : including indoor ideas for rainy days, visible progress tracking and positive post-practice questions.
Read more at www.bitesizegolf.com
Back to school can also mean a fresh start for golf.
Build a 15-minute routine around:
- A simple warm-up
- One purposeful skill
- A fun challenge
- A short teach-back
- Visible progress
Keep it light, keep it repeatable and let the child finish wanting to play again.
Read the full guide at www.bitesizegolf.com
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